Awesome

Humans seem to have an insatiable appetite for the spectacular and the truly awesome.  During the NBA's 2011 All Star weekend, I recall staring at the TV monitor in front of the treadmill watching Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers leaping over a car and ramming a basketball into the net during the slam dunk contest.  I'm pretty sure that he only did it once in front of the cameras, but I must had seen that footage over 20 times that day.  Funny thing is, I will still watch it if the same video clip is shown today.  We are similarly dazzled by the likes of Usain Bolt setting multiple world records during the 2008 Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps winning multiple gold medals in the pool, basketball stars executing perfect no-look, behind the back passes to trailing teammates for easy baskets, or a figure skater performing a perfect routine and receiving a perfect score.  We admire them, we want to get their autographs, we want to touch them and shake their hands.  We sort of...worship them.

Similarly, we are also easily awed by the wonders of nature when we stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon, feel the cold sprays near a mighty waterfall or inspect intricate and grotesque rock formations formed by thousands of years of erosion.  We stand in wonder looking up at tall skyscrapers and admire the exquisite beauty and agility of a damselfly by the pond.  We delight in beholding something wonderful.

The tendency to be in awe appears to be an uniquely human trait among earthly creatures.  Case in point, you will never see cheetahs lounging under a tree in the African savannah saying to each other:

"Hey, Chad!  Check out that youngster there.  That dude can RUN, man.  Beautiful long legs, powerful stride, aerodynamic form, perfect position...PURRRRFECT!  Yeah, I'd like to get my kids to meet him some day...."

God designed humans to worship Him, so when we stand in awe of something magnificent and bigger than ourselves, we are simply expressing our God-given worshipping nature, though often in a misdirected fashion.  When we witness acts of incredible human skill, we ought to praise God that our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made.  When we gaze into the majesty of the heavenly host, we should remember that the heavens declare the glory of God.  It is good for Christians to cultivate a God-worshipping heart, for when we leave this earth, we will be praising God for eternity.  John recorded in the book of Revelation:

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.  They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  And they cried out in a loud voice:

"Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb." (Revelation 7:9-10)

John also wrote:

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:


"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!"  (Revelation 19:6-7)

You think watching someone jumping over a car for a slam dunk is exciting?  You ain't seen nothing yet.

Q: What is the chief aim of man?
A: Man's chief aim is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
(from the Westminster Shorter Catechism)